"You're one piece of a jigsaw puzzle: as you begin to move into your true shape, the pieces around you either change to match you, or stop fitting." ~ Martha BeckI lived in Santa Fe for 17 years; it's where much of my adult life happened: I established myself as a Pediatric/Maternity Nurse and Instructor; my three children were born and raised; we bought two homes; and my 15-year marriage ended. Some of my most cherished--and difficult--memories are of Santa Fe.

It's also a place known for its rich culture, art, picturesque landscape, and as a lesser-known characteristic: its woo-woo.

And after my marriage imploded, I got very involved in the woo-woo. I chased it; I craved it; and when I practiced it consistently, it felt like home to me.

So it was no surprise that I consulted a Natural Healer after dealing with colon upset that wouldn't go away, and western medicine couldn't heal.

But when she began to practice her magic on me, I felt a bit skeptical, even worried.

After a lengthy intake and her genuine interest in all of my symptoms, she asked me to stand up and place my arms at right angles to my body. I lifted my arms as if ready for take-off, then she placed a small vial of something in each hand.

She stood in front of me and in one motion, her hands pushed both of my arms down toward the floor.

To my surprise, one arm stayed steady while one became weak and limp.

"This is the one," she said, as she handed me the vial that was tucked into the fist of the arm that stayed upright. "This is what your body prefers."

She was right, of course. My gut did heal with that preferred medication, but what really impressed me was how she knew it. Or rather, how my body knew which remedy to "choose".

I have since practiced this many times--with food, with decisions, and preferences. Bodies go limp in the presence of things that are not right for them, and bodies stay strong when presented with something that's good or nourishing.

You can practice this right now without even doing the weird "Arm Thing"--as my Coaching Mentor calls it.

Think of something you love: sandy beaches, mangoes, or your favorite person. It doesn't matter what you picture. What matters is how your body reacts.

Do you feel a skip in your heart, a surge of energy, or a feeling of elation or peace?

Now think of something you hate. How does your body react? Do you feel sluggish, unmotivated, or sad?

See? You now know a bit of woo-woo to help you with decisions that have once eluded or stumped you.

Why? Because your body is your biggest ally. It knows what your mind does not. The problem is, we usually don't trust our body's signals of pain or sickness or elation because we've been conditioned to believe that our minds are stronger and smarter.

Not so.

Your only goal as you practice this form of woo is to follow your body's joy, peace, and excitement. If your body responds with less than anything but heart-jumping whistling, don't follow it, don't choose it, and don't do it.

But don't be surprised if you begin to love this practice so much that you excitedly share it with family and friends, and they think you're off your rocker.

Practicing anything that isn't considered logical feels a bit foreign and weird to most people--sometimes too weird. And that often equals threatening.

But no need to fret.

As you move into your true shape--whether you're chasing woo-woo or something else--the people who are closest to you are bound to feel a bit displaced. They will either try to fit into their true shape, too, or they will stop fitting with you altogether.

If you find people or things disappearing from your life, consider it a blessing, because your body--in all its wisdom--is helping you create a life that fits you best.

If you listen, your body's signals will enlighten you about whom to hang out with, what to eat, where to go on vacation, and how to make a profitable and fun living.

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After being raised in the mid-west, I migrated south for high school (with a year in Brazil) and college, and ventured west for a long marriage (and later, divorce)...and eventually landed in the northwest--my real home. Sigh.